Forester15
Novice Member
Hello all. New member, first post. Please go easy!
Now, I can’t pretend that I know a huge amount about the audio world, which seems to get more complex every day, but I do try to make what I listen to sound as good as possible, and I tend to research a fair bit before I commit my limited funds to something.
I use a first model Astell & Kern AK70 as my music storage and playing device (mostly FLACs but with a fair amount of mp3s), with Shure SE425 IEMs for listening in public and Grado RS2e over ears for the privacy of my front room. I have to say that I am VERY happy with the sound I get, really VERY happy. I found that the AK70 wasn’t quite up to the job of driving the first good quality over ears I tried to use, a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pros, but the 32 ohm Grados are no problem and the mostly rock and folk on my player sounds great.
But - would the sound with either of the phones be improved with a valve amp in between? I hear talk of richer sound, ‘warmer’ is a word used a lot for the sound these amps produce. So what do people think? Not necessary? As I say, it sounds great now. Or is it worth trying one, and if so, what do you recommend?
Thanks.
Now, I can’t pretend that I know a huge amount about the audio world, which seems to get more complex every day, but I do try to make what I listen to sound as good as possible, and I tend to research a fair bit before I commit my limited funds to something.
I use a first model Astell & Kern AK70 as my music storage and playing device (mostly FLACs but with a fair amount of mp3s), with Shure SE425 IEMs for listening in public and Grado RS2e over ears for the privacy of my front room. I have to say that I am VERY happy with the sound I get, really VERY happy. I found that the AK70 wasn’t quite up to the job of driving the first good quality over ears I tried to use, a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pros, but the 32 ohm Grados are no problem and the mostly rock and folk on my player sounds great.
But - would the sound with either of the phones be improved with a valve amp in between? I hear talk of richer sound, ‘warmer’ is a word used a lot for the sound these amps produce. So what do people think? Not necessary? As I say, it sounds great now. Or is it worth trying one, and if so, what do you recommend?
Thanks.